It has always been hot and dry in Las Vegas between the Mojave Desert and Death Valley. However, climate change is increasing the water supply problems in the gambling metropolis. The responsible Clark County district therefore wants to limit the size of private swimming pools in the future. However, the measure should be just a drop in the ocean.
As of Sept. 1, new pools in the district will be limited to a maximum of 600 square feet (about 55.7 square meters) under the ordinance. This should help conserve water in light of the ongoing drought in the region.
About 90 percent of Nevada’s water supply comes from the Colorado River. Most of it comes from Lake Mead, which has hit an all-time low this year due to drought and overexploitation, according to a report by US website Gizmodo.
According to the Las Vegas Sun, John Entsminger, who is responsible for water supply in the Las Vegas Valley, warned at a water management meeting this week that the reservoir level could reach “deadpool” levels by 2026 if the drought continues. as a result of which the Hoover Dam can no longer be supplied with sufficient water to generate electricity.
Limiting the size of pools sounds like a sensible idea at first — especially since a lot of water just evaporates in outdoor pools. “We have a lot of pools that are larger than 3,000 square feet, and a lot of what you see in these new homes isn’t even recreational. It’s all about the aesthetics,” says Entsminger.
Commercial swimming pools excluded
However, the new regulations have no retroactive effect on the approximately 200,000 existing swimming pools in the district, which have an average surface area of approximately 43.7 square meters. The restrictions also do not apply to commercial pools in hotels or water parks.
As a result, the pool industry feels unfairly treated: “Our industry is being unfairly targeted because it’s easy to show pictures of lush pools and say, ‘That’s the problem,'” said Dustin Watters, CEO of a local pool. and spa company. .
Avoid “excesses”.
It is probably mainly “pool excesses” that Clark County is trying to prevent with the new edition. “Right now there is a 5,000-square-foot project that they’ve applied for a permit for,” Bronson Mack, the public affairs officer for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said at the water board’s meeting. “I don’t know about you, but this is twice the size of my house.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
